<p>So I saw part of this thing and it seems a bit ridiculous. I am black and I never really had the conception that being black in America was vastly different from being white or asian or latino in america. Doesn’t everyone pretty much want the same thing:family, happiness, and money?</p>
<p>But anyway the show seems to over represent the dregs (and I mean that not in an offensive way) of the black community and show it as the norm. I mean people in prison? Really are there THAT many black people in prison or who go to terrible schools. Perhaps I am in the minority but most of the black kids I know live in suburban areas have two parents and the concept of going to college was a fact before we ever had a choice. Their parents are doctors, engineers, and businessmen so it seemed like the documentary focused on one side of the black community while de-emphasizing the fact that many blacks don’t live in those conditions. And that bit about black marriage was ridiculous, it made it seem as if black marriage was a good thing, but what if one has a white spouse? Granted this one wasn’t as bad as the last one where they went on a whole dribble about how “black women face a dearth of good black men”, but still I think stuff like this is a bit dumb.</p>
<p>As much as there are affluent blacks in America, they represent only the minority.</p>
<p>Looking at [url=<a href=“http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html]numbers[/url”>http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html]numbers[/url</a>] alone, it’s clear that being black in America is vastly different to being white, latino, or asian in America, mostly due to the large socioeconomic disparity. While blacks are a minority in the U.S., they represent the majority of people in prison. While blacks make up ~13% of the population, they represent about 25% of people living in poverty. Blacks have a median income around ~$33,000 while the average income for whites is $54,000. While the program was slightly skewed as it showed mostly negative aspects of being black in America, it’s hard to deny the realities faced by most African Americans.</p>
<p>Dbate, you live in a bubble. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing because your parents wanted you to live among positive role models who can give you the best opportunities. To say, however, that racial and economic inequality among blacks does not exist is a dangerous mentality.</p>
<p>I am also black who comes from Detroit (some of my relatives still lives in within the city limits). Most African Americans are concentrated in urban areas (whether it’s in the city or surrounding inner suburbs). These areas include Detroit, Chicago-Milwaukee, NYC, Baltimore-DC, Charlotte, Atlanta, LA-Oakland, etc. If you live in any of the cities, the educational systems are deplorable and the segregation is extreme. </p>
<p>I grew up in a middle-class household. However, I knew while I was growing up that there are some very serious problems in the black community, which includes drugs, crime, loss of manufacturing jobs, and lack of educational opportunities among lower-income black families. For them, being black in America IS different because of these disparities.</p>
<p>I personally didn’t care for the Black in America 2 series. While it had a purposeful goal, the “black experience” in America is too diverse and multifaceted to broadcast in a few hours. You have blacks who are low-income, middle-class, and very wealthy. Some come from Africa and the Caribbean. They all have different upbringings. However, the one thing that ties us together is that some people still perceive all blacks as inferior, lazy, stupid, dangerous, and other stereotypes.</p>
<p>To me, this show is a classic white liberal thing–“If we just talk about race enough, we can all get along.” Been going on for years without any success–but it makes them feel better, particularly in an era when no one is talking about doing anything substantial for the plight of inner city blacks.</p>
<p>Idk about this bubble thing. I mean I guess i could kind of live in a bubble, but if I live in a bubble then most of america has to live in a bubble because all this poverty or whatever is kind of hard to see. I mean EVERYWHERE are starbucks, Abercrombie, and the like. The entirety of America seems to necessitate that people have a high income level because everything is expensive. I don’t pay for my clothes, never had, but went shopping today and the prices for the things were ridiculous I bought three things that came out to 90 dollars and that was on sale. </p>
<p>I realize that I must sound like an insulated sururban kid, but there are alot of other minorities like me. And I question if we really are in the minority, hardly any of the minority people I have ever met in my life (my ENTIRE life and I have traveled alot) were poor or disadvantaged in a way that would be implicated by that program. </p>
<p>I guess some minorities have a tough time now, but I still feel it is myopic to focus too extensively on this issues as they propagate myths about black people that others are susceptible to assimilating into their conception of black people. Also it makes it seem as if black people live in a bubble within society to focus on this few issues.</p>
<p>^^ LOL, “everywhere” is Abercrombie and Fitch? That store exists in the wealthy, predominately white communities. In the lower-income communities? No. </p>
<p>You don’t necessarily need a high income to purchase basic items. Many people shop at Wal-Mart, Kroger, Dollar General, and other discount retail stores to save on groceries.</p>
<p>Why don’t you read this article from the Washington Post:</p>
<p>My kid had the same view as Dbate. I took her to a store in the inner-city a few years and she recoiled at the people she saw there. In effect, I took her out of the bubble. It was an eye-opener for both of us. She was embarrassed and ashamed at her reaction. Seeing it on TV was one thing, but seeing it live was something else.</p>
<p>We live in Detroit and we see and move around in all socio-economic circles in the City. Yes, she was raised exposed to the middle and upper class, but I think the exposure to all classes needed to occur. Her point of view on a lot of things have changed.</p>
<p>I understand your kids reaction, I had the same feeling when I went to the DMV. I didn’t feel bad though. I did feel kind of bad when i walked into a store that was mostly black and felt a bit uncomfortable, I had just never been around that many black people before and it was somewhat jarring.</p>
<p>Wow, Dbate, I find that hard to believe. We live in the NYC suburbs and I can find you plenty of lower income communities even in one of the wealthiest counties in the country.</p>
<p>^^^ I was just gonna chime in, the poorest areas I know of surround NYC in fact some pockets don’t even have a local grocery store only bodegas. One area has A & F/Starbucks etc. and 3 blocks away are crack dens. Different zip codes.</p>
<p>Dbate, if you live in Sugar Land, have you ever been inside Houston? Most of us will find it hard to believe that you have never seen low-income communities in Houston. Sugar Land is part of the Houston metropolitan area.</p>
<p>I rarely go into Houston, as pathetic as it sounds most of my life I have lived in a little suburb. I know I sound like I am being a pretentious jerk, but I am not trying to do that at all. The premise was to criticize the show because it marginalized the black people who don’t follow a certain economic mold.</p>
<p>When I do go into Houston it is mostly downtown or to the medical center, which Mayor Bill White has made quite nice.</p>
<p>Dbate, I hope you never see the world any differently. The truth, however, will be there waiting to be experienced. </p>
<p>You say that you travel. Keep doing so, visiting out of your comfort zone. You say that it’s all Starbucks and Abercrombie? I can’t think of the nearest franchise of either. I can tell where my nearest taqueria is, a check cashing place, laundramat, drug corner, etc. Keep traveling and reading and experiencing.</p>
<p>The second or third time you’ll get pulled over for DWB* in New Haven, you’ll start thinking a little harder about these things.</p>
<p>Dbate, you can’t be serious. You thought the poverty line was $100K? What have your parents been teaching you?? Many posters (all races) here are simply in shock. </p>
<p>The official poverty line varies by state but it’s generally less than $12,000 for a single person and less than $20,000 for a family (mother and kids). There are MILLIONS of people out there who survive on that every day. It’s a struggle to even survive on less than $50,000 a year. </p>
<p>Child, before you matriculate to Yale, you need to travel more! I’m not saying to venture into the dangerous parts of Houston, but your world view is not only sheltered, but it’s extremely naive and troublesome. How would you react if someone discriminates against you in New Haven or other cities in the Northeast? You think the incident with Prof. Gates at Harvard was a minor nuisance? (I personally think he overreacted, but millions of blacks are pulled over or given harsher sentences because of their skin color.) You need to be street smart and become more aware of your surroundings.</p>
<p>It was not my fault. My parents make about 120K and were always complaining about bills and stuff so I just assumed that we were poor. The only salary data I had EVER seen until my junior year of high school was that of medical doctors because I was 100% sure I wanted to be a doctor, so I just thought that everyone made the same salaries doctors did. So logically I thought my family was poor and therefore thought the poverty line was 100K, how was I supposed to know any differently?</p>
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<p>I am not street smart and tend to believe people, so I am at least aware that I am susceptible to fraud so i tend to be cynical of things.</p>
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<p>I would just think they were ignorant asses.</p>
<p>I live in WISCONSIN and even I have lived in a low-income, predominately black area lol!
My family is kind of lower-middle class and for a couple months we had to stay in the inner city.
Our car (a MINIVAN mind you, and not a new one at that) was stolen 3 times. We rolled down the window so thieves would stop breaking it.
Dbate, you need a real wake-up call to what it is like for the majority of black Americans. You definitely live in an insulated bubble lol, no offense.</p>